SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jul 22, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- NetApp (NASDAQ:NTAP) today announced that Computerworld's
Infrastructure Management World Conference selected NetApp customer
Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) as an Honoree for its "Best Practices in
Infrastructure Management" awards program in the "Data Center
Management, IT Operations & Business Continuity" category. Sprint
Nextel (Sprint) was honored for strategically using NetApp(R)
Protection Manager data management solutions to design a new data
center infrastructure -- named 4S -- that facilitates fast prototyping
and the quick rollout of new business applications. 4S, which
represents Simplicity, Speed, Standards, and Stability, is a
cutting-edge data storage and virtualization environment that is
designed to provide the utmost simplicity, performance,
interoperability, and reliability without disruptive backup processes
and with minimal administrative requirements and controlled costs.

Computerworld's "Best Practices in Infrastructure Management"
awards program acknowledges excellence among users of infrastructure
management technology. Honorees were recognized during the "Best
Practices in Infrastructure Management" awards presentation at the
Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md.,
on June 18.

"Infrastructure management initiatives in today's enterprises are
often the most compelling priorities for IT management today," said
Ron Milton, executive vice president of Computerworld. "The
organizations and professionals judged to be Honorees in
Computerworld's 2008 'Best Practices in Infrastructure Management'
Awards Program have demonstrated how true value can be derived from
moving to a next-generation, dynamic enterprise."

With NetApp Protection Manager solutions, Sprint created a new
infrastructure management layer to automate and speed the provisioning
of resources from within the data center. Sprint's IT team also
implemented data protection tools such as NetApp Snapshot(TM), NetApp
SnapMirror(R), and NetApp SnapVault(R) to quickly manage, back up, and
provision the data sets associated with each test environment build.
As a result of this new infrastructure, Sprint has improved customer
satisfaction, reducing the time it takes to fulfill requests from
months to the amount of time it takes to place a phone call. Sprint
also gained a competitive advantage through faster application
prototyping and creation and realized increased cost savings.

"Sprint is pleased to be recognized by Computerworld for our
innovative storage and virtualization project," said Josh Morton, vice
president of IT Operations for Sprint. "By deploying NetApp
FlexClone(R) technology, we have also been able to use virtualization
to reduce our servers, storage, software licenses, and support
required by 50%."

"This recognition for Sprint showcases their commitment to
delivering innovative data center solutions and we are proud to be
their partner for this important project," said Elisa Steele, senior
vice president of Corporate Marketing at NetApp. "Despite unique
challenges, Sprint now has a dynamic and efficient data management
solution that is helping its business remain competitive and bring
products to market quickly. Sprint truly earned this award."

About Computerworld

Computerworld is the leading source of technology news and
information for IT influencers worldwide. Computerworld's
award-winning Web site (www.computerworld.com), weekly publication,
focused conference series and custom research form the hub of the
world's largest (40+ edition) global IT media network. In the past
five years alone, Computerworld has won more than 100 awards,
including Folio Magazine's 2006 Gold EDDIE Award for the best
technology/computing magazine, the 2004 and 2006 Magazine of the Year
Award, and 2006 Best Overall Web Publication from the American Society
of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE). In addition, in 2007
Computerworld's then editor in chief, Don Tennant, received the
prestigious Timothy White Award from American Business Media.
Computerworld leads the industry with an online audience of over 2
million unique, monthly visitors and a print audience of 1,222,000
readers each week (IntelliQuest CIMS Spring 2007).

About International Data Group (IDG)

International Data Group (IDG) is the world's leading technology
media, events, and research company. IDG's online network includes
more than 450 Web sites spanning business technology, consumer
technology, digital entertainment, and video games worldwide. IDG
publishes more than 300 magazines and newspapers in 85 countries
including CIO, CSO, Computerworld, GamePro, InfoWorld, Macworld,
Network World, and PC World. IDG's lead-generation service, IDG
Connect, matches technology companies with an audience of engaged,
high-quality IT professionals, influencers, and decision makers.

IDG is a leading producer of more than 750 technology-related
events including Macworld Conference & Expo, LinuxWorld Conference &
Expo, Entertainment for All Expo (E for All), DEMO, and IDC
Directions. IDC, a subsidiary of IDG, is the premier global provider
of market intelligence, advisory services, and events. Over 900 IDC
analysts in more than 90 countries provide global, regional, and local
expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends.

Additional information about IDG, a privately held company, is
available at www.idg.com. Note: All product and company names are
trademarks of their respective companies.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and
wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to
consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely
recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative
technologies, including two wireless networks serving nearly 53
million customers at the end of the first quarter 2008;
industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and
international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet
backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.

About NetApp

NetApp creates innovative storage and data management solutions
that accelerate business breakthroughs and achieve outstanding cost
efficiency. Discover our passion for helping companies around the
world go further, faster at www.netapp.com.

NetApp, the NetApp logo, Go further, faster, FlexClone, SnapVault,
Snapshot, and SnapMirror are trademarks or registered trademarks of
NetApp, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other
brands or products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective holders and should be treated as such.

SOURCE: NetApp

NetApp
PR Hotline, 408-822-3287
xdl-uspr@netapp.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008